Washing machine



Aug. 11,1942. D HAYS 2,292,833

WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1' Fig. 1.

lhventc pr' 1 David Hays His A1313 oPneg.

Aug, 11, 1942. Y HAYS r 7 2,292,833

V WASHINGlMACHINE I v F'iled Sept. 24, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i: n: I

Inventor: w v David Hays I b flaw/y. 9 His Attovneg.

Patented Au 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,292,833 7 I Q i WASHING MACHINE a David Hays, Fairfleld, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to washing machines 0f the type in which clothes are washed and dried in a single compartment.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in ma chines of this type in which washing and drying are effected by a piston-like member which has a squeezing action on the clothes.

For a consideration of what I believe novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the drawings appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention, the parts being in position for washing; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig, l, th parts being in the position for wringing or drying; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the power unit for operating the machine; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 partly broken away to show the construction of the impeller and its casing; and Fig. ,5 is a diagrammatic view of the automatic control for the washing machine.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a washing machine having a tub I resting at its lower edge on a rubber bead 2 on the upper end Of a skirt 3, enclosing the driving mechanism for the machine. At the lower end of the skirt is fixed-a frame 4 in which are carried casters 5. The tub I is fastened to and wedged against the ciprocated toward and away from the agitating members H by mechanism hereinafter described alternately squeezing and releasing th clothes therebetween; 0n the up-stroke some of the liquid is drained through the perforations in the disk It, but enough of the liquid remains between the disk and the agitating members so tact therewith and thereb produce a change in that the clothes are suspended therein. On the down-stroke of the disk I8, th concave surfaces H of the agitating members act as suction cups tending to hold a portion of the clothes in condistribution or turnover of the clothes in the washing liquid. In effect the cover 9 is an abut-- drains through the perforations in the disk. .The

pressure is suflicient to move th agitating members to the bottom of the sockets I2 in which position they are substantially flush with the upper edge of the skirt by a clamping band 6 cooperating with beads l and 8, respectively, on the tub and skirt.

The upper end of the tub is closed by a cover comprising a casting 9 and a sheet metal part i0,

enclosing the upper side thereof. The cover is held on the tub by suitable catches II. In the casting 9 are a plurality of cylindrical sockets l2 slidably receiving agitating members IS, the lower ends l4 of which are concave so as to serve as suction cups. The agitating members are biased downwardly'by coil springs l5 surrounding stems it on the agitating members which are slidably carried in projections l1 1n the top walls of the sockets l2, The agitating members I; when in'their lowered position are slightly above the normal water level inthe tub,

- which is indicated by the dotted line Ha.

lower surface ofthe-cover.

' The machine is operated by a hydraulic power unit carried in a cylinder 22 supported in the frame 4. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the power. unit has a piston head in the lower part of the cylinder 22 comprising an upper disk 23 and a lower disk 24, The disk 24 is provided with a plurality of openings 25 around its periphery, through a suitable number of which extend studs 26a for clamping the disks 23 and 24 together. A piston ring 24a is carried in a groove 24b between the disks 23 and 24. The disks 23 and 24 are spaced apart at th center to provide a housing for a centrifugal impeller 25 mounted on a shaft 21. The impeller is supported between the disks by a spring-pressed ball thrust bearing 21a arranged in a socket 28 in the disk 24. The upper disk 23 is provided with an inlet opening 29 around th shaft 21. The openings 25 in the lower disk 24 serve as discharge openings. The

cylinder 22 is filled to 'a level indicated by the dotted line 2941 with a liquid which is preferably a light lubricating oil. When the impeller is rotated, oil is drawn in from the upper side of the piston head through the inlet opening 29 pressure created by the impeller. When the impeller is stationary, oil flows back through the impeller from the under side of the piston head, allowing the piston head to move downward in the cylinder.

The impeller is rotated by an electric motor comprisinga stationary member 33 carried in a cylindrical housing 3| fixed to the upper side of the disk 23 by through bolts 32 and a rotating member 33 carried on the shaft 21. The shaft is guidedat its lower end in a bearing 34 carried in a wall 35 which serves as a bottom closure for the motor. When the piston head is in its lower position,'as illustrated in Fig. 3, the lower end of the hearing 34 is submerged in the oil contained in the cylinder 22. This serves to lubricate the hearing. The housing 3| is provided with inlet openings 33 through which the oil flows to the impeller. Swirling of the oil above the inlet to the impeller is prevented by a bailie plate 31 having tongues 33 fitting in the inlet openings 36. The baflle plate 31 rests on deflectors 39 integral with the upper side of the disk 23 and is held in this position by projections 43 on the housing 3| which extend over the upper surface of the bailie 31 and clamp the baflle against the deflectors. The upper end of the housing 3| is provided with a guide flange 4| which prevents tilting of the piston in the cylinder 22 during its reciprocation.

Between the cylinders 2| and 22 is a cylinder 42 fixed at its upper end to the cylinder 2| and at its lower end to the cylinder 22. The cylinders 2|,42, and-22 accordingly constitute a rigid frame connected between the bottom of the tub I and the frame 4 at the lower end of the skirt 3. Integral with the lower end of the cylinder 42 is a cylinder 43 slidably receiving a piston 44 connected by a rod 45 to the upper end of the housing 3|. Also slidably received in the cylinder 43 is a hollow cylinder 46 fixed at its upper end to a piston 41. The piston 41 is received in a cylinder- 48 which is slidable in the cylinder 42 and is fixed to the lower end of the rod l9. During washing, a coil spring 49 surrounding the rod l3 and arranged between a seat 53 in the upper side of the cylinder 48 and a seat 5| in the cylinder 2|, biases the cylinder 43 downward and holds the cylinder 48, piston 41, the cylinder 43, and the piston 44 together so that these parts move as a unit. When the motor of the hydraulic power unit is energized, the rod l3 and the disk |3 attached thereto are accordingly moved toward the top of the tub I until the resistance to further movement balances the pressure created by the impeller 26. When the motor is deenergized, the spring 43 returns the parts to the lowered position. The reciprocating movement of the disk |3 may accordingly be effected by merely opening and closing the motor switch.

During wringing, the disk l3 must be forced upward under a much heavier pressure than that.

required for washing. It is accordingly necessary that some means be provided for multiplying the pressure developed by the hydraulic power unit. In the present construction this is accomplished by locking the piston 41 in its raised position at the end of the up-stroke during washing and thereafter using the reciprocation of the piston 44 to pump liquid through the hollow cylinder 46 of the piston 41 to the space between the piston 41 and the cylinder 43. Due to the larger area of the piston 41 the pressure transmitted to the disk I3 is multiplied. This is accomplished by a pawl 32 pivoted at 53 on the under side of the port 6| through a conduit 62 having a check.

piston 41. The pawl is moved toward and away from ratchet teeth 34 on thecylinder 43 by a lever 33 pivoted intermediate its ends at 33 on the cylinder 42 and having a pin 31 at one end cooperating with a slot 53 in the pawl. A spring 53 connected to the opposite end of the lever 33 biases the lever in the direction to move the pawl away from the ratchet teeth 34. The pawl is moved into engagement with the ratchet teeth by a solenoid 63 which, when energized, overcomes the force of the biasing spring 33 and pivots the lever in a clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 2.

From one aspect, the piston 41 and the associted parts comprise a jack by means of which the relatively light pressure of the piston rod 43 is multiplied to the relatively heavy pressure required for wringing. From this aspect, the piston 41 and the cylinder 43 are the pressure transmitting members of the jack and the piston 44 the operating member.

The ratchet teeth 34 permit the pawl to move upwardly relative thereto, but prevent any downward movement. Accordingly, if the pawl engages the ratchet teeth before the piston rod 43 reaches its uppermost position, the piston 41 is moved upwardly until the resistance offered to further upward movement of the disk |3 bal-' ances the pressure exerted by the piston rod 43 and the piston 41 is thereafter held in this position by the pawl 52. On the down-stroke of the piston rod 45, liquid is supplied to the space between the upper end of the piston 44 and the lower end of the cylinder 43 through a port 3| in the cylinder 43. The liquid is conducted to the valve 63 and a shut-off valve 64 therein. 0n the succeeding up-stroke of the piston rod 45, the

liquid between the piston 44 and the lower end 1 of the cylinder 43 is forced upward through a ball check valve 63 at the lower end of a passage 66 extending up through the cylinder 46 to the space between the upper end of the piston 41 and the cylinder 43. The ball check valve 63 prevents the reverse fiow so by successive reciprocations of the piston 44 the cylinder 43 is moved upward in the cylinder 42 under a relatively heavy pressure to squeeze the liquid from the clothes. The relative areas of the pistons 44 and 41 are preferably so related that the maximum pressure exerted on the cylinder 43 cannot exceed a safe value. However. to take care of excessive pressures which might be developed un-.

der some conditions, the space between the piston 41 and the cylinder 43 is connected by a conduit 63a carried by the'piston 41 and a flexible hose 61 to a pressure relief valve 33. The conduit 33a extends out through a slot 33 in the cylinder 42. The reciprocation of the hydraulic power unit is also used to operate a pump for emptying the tub. This pump comprises a piston 13 connected by a piston rod 1| to the upper end of the reciprocating housing 3| of the hydraulic power unit. The piston fits in a cylinder 12 integral with the cylinder 42. Upon reciprocation of the piston 13, liquid is pumped to a drain through a conduit 13. The pump is connected to the bottom of the tub through a conduit 14 having a valve 13 therein. and is'also connected to the discharge side of the pressure relief valve 33 by a conduit 13.

Liquid is supplied to the washing machine from hot and cold water pipes 11 through a thermostatic mixing valve 13 to a conduit 13 connected through a valve 33 to the bottom of the tub.

of cams SI, l2, 03, 04, and I! fixed to a cam shaft 80 connected through bevel gears 01, shaft 00, and bevel gears 09 to a dial 00. The shaft is also connected through a friction clutch 0| to a shaft 92 rotated through a gear train 93 driven by a ratchet wheel 94. Upon each upward stroke of the hydraulic power unit, a pawl 00 carried on the upper end of a rod 96 connected to the housing 3| engages the ratchet wheel 04 and moves it through an angle corresponding to one tooth of the ratchet wheel. 0n the down-stroke of the hydraulic power unit, the pawl slips over the inclined faces of the ratchet teeth, and the' ratchet wheel accordingly remains stationary. The rotation of the cam shaft 00 and of the dial 90 is accordingly proportional to the number of strokes of the hydraulic power unit.

In theuse of the machine, the cover 9 is removed and the clothes to be washed are loaded in the tub while the dial 00 is in the "Off" position as illustrated in Fig. 5. After the .cover has been fastened in place, the control knob is turned in a clockwise direction until the pointer 96 of the dial is opposite On. This rotation of the control knob causes the, cam shaft 86 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, bringing a projection 91 on the cam 8| beneath a plunger 00 of a switch 90, lifting the plunger and thereby moving the switch to the closed position. At the same time a projection I00 on the cam 82 lifts a plunger IM to open the valve 80 controlling the inlet conduit I9. Water accordingly flows into the tub from the hot and cold water pipes 11. The closure of the switch 99 completes a circuit to the motor of the hydraulic power unit extending from a conductor I02 connected to one side of a power line through conductor I03, switch 99, conductor I04, heater element I05, and a thermostatic switch I00 to the motor and from the motor through conductor I01 and conductor I00 to the* openings 25, causing an upward movement of the piston of the hydraulic power unit, which upward movement continues until the resistance balances the fluid pressure created by the impeller. The closing of the motor circuit energizes the heating element I05 which, after a, short interval, causes the opening of the thermostatic switch I05, to open the motor circuit. The opening of the thermostatic switch preferably occurs after the hydraulic operator has reached its uppermost position. Upon opening of the motor circuit, the hydraulic operator is returned to its lowermost position, partly by gravity and partly by the force of the coil spring 49. During the return movement, oil flows in through the openings through the impeller and out through the opening 29 to the upper side of'the piston head. The opening of the motor circuit deenergizes the heating element I05, allowing cooling of the thermostatic switch so that it returns to the closed position. The rate of reciprocation of the hydraulic power unit is determined by the heating and cooling of the thermostatic switch I06 which serves as a timer. On each upward stroke of the hydraulic power unit the pawl 95 engages the ratchet wheel 94' and turns it-through an angle corresponding to that occupied by one tooth. The ratch wheel 04 acting through the gear train 03 and theshaft 02 causes a corresponding rotationof the cam shaft "in a-clock wise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. The filling of the tub continues until the projection III is moved clear of the plunger IOI, permitting the closure of the valve 00. At this time the tub is filled to the proper level with water and the clothes are washed by the reciprocating movement of the disk It toward and away from the cover of the machine. It is noted that the reciprocating movement of the disk I0 starts at the same time as the admission of water to the machine. I While the washing action is not as eflecti've until the machine is filled to the proper level,-

the clothes will not be damaged. The clothesare washed until aprojection I00 on the cam 03 engages a plunger II 0 and opens the drain valve 15, permitting the liquid in the tub toflow through the conduit" to the cylinder 12 whence it is pumped through conduit II to a drain by the reciprocation of thepiston I0. When'the projection I00 is moved clear of the plunger III, the drain valve 15 is closed and at the same time the inlet valve 80 is opened by a projection II I on the cam 02, The opening of the inlet valve admits fresh water for rinsing. When the rinsing operation is completed, drain valve I5 is again opened by a projection II2 on the cam 83, and the valve 64 is opened by a projection III on the cam 84. which engages a plunger III. The plunger II4 also carries a switch II! which, is moved to the closed position when the valve 04 is opened, energizing the solenoid 60 through a circuit which extends from conductor I02 to the solenoid and from the solenoid .through conductor II6, switch H5, and conductors II! and I08. The solenoid moves the pawl 52 into engagement with the ratchet teeth 54 and holds the piston 41 in its uppermost position. During the continued reciprocation of the hydraulic power unit, liquid is drawn in through the valves 63 and V 64 and the conduit 62 and is pumped through the;

passage 66 to the space between the piston 41 and the cylinder 48. This causes upwardmovement of the disk I0 under an increased pressure. During the downward movement of the hydraulic power unit, the cylinder 40 is held in its raised position by the ball check valve 65 cylinder 12, whence it is pumped to the: drain.

After the projection H8 is moved clear of the plunger H9, the projection 91 on the cam 8| moves clear of the plunger 9'! of the switch 9!, opening the motor circuit. The machine is now in the off" position and, after removal of the clothes which have been washed and dried, is ready for a succeeding cycle of operations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washingmachine, a tub for receiving liquid and clothes, an abutment extending across the tub above the bottom thereof, a suction cup movable relative to the abutment toward and away from .the bottom of the tub, said suction cup occupyingonly part of the area of the abutment, spring means biasing the suction cup'toward the bottom of the tub, and means for reciprocating the liquid and clothes toward and away from the suction cup and abutment whereby the clothes are squeezed against the abutment and suction cup.

2. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving liquid and clothes, an abutment extending across the tub above the bottom thereof and having a downwardly facing recess therein, an agitating member retractable into said recess, spring means biasing said member out of said recess, and means for reciprocating the liquid and clothes in the tub toward and away from said abutment.

3. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving liquid and clothes to be washed, an abutment in the tub, a member in the tub reciprocable toward and away from the abutment, a reciprocating piston, a connection between said piston and said member comprising a larger piston and cylinder, means for holding said larger piston and cylinder together duringwashing whereby said member is reciprocated toward and away from said abutment to alternately squeeze and release the clothes therebetween, and means effective during wringing for utilizing the reciprocation of said first piston to build up a fluid pressure between said larger piston and cylinder to move said member toward said abutment under a relatively high pressure.

4. In a combined washer and wringer', a tub for receiving liquid and clothes, means including a reciprocable member for alternately squeezing and releasing the clothes for washing, means for reciprocating said member including a reciprocating power member, jack means connected between said members for utilizing the reciprocation of said power member to Build up a steady relatively high pressure on said reciprocable member to squeeze the clothes for wringing, and

means for holding said jack and said members together during washing whereby said members reciprocate as a unit during washing.

5. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving liquid and clothes to be washed, a closed top for the tub, a perforate member in the tub, a reciprocating piston, a connection between said piston and said member comprising a larger piston and cylinder, means for holding said larger piston and cylinder together during washing whereby said member is reciprocated toward and away from the top to alternately squeeze and release the clothes therebetween, and means eflective during wringing for utilizing the reciprocation of said first pistonto build up a fluid pressure between said larger piston and cylinder to move said member toward the top of the tub under a relatively high pressure.

6. In a washing machine, a tub having a closed top, a reciprocatory member in the tub movable toward and away from the top of the tub for agitating the clothes, a piston below the tub connected to said member for reciprocating the same, an electric motor driven fluid pump arranged when energized to develop a fluid pressure to move said piston and when deenergized to release said fluid pressure, means for intermittently opening and closing the motor circuit, a timer for controlling the washing machine, a ratchet drivefor the timer, and means operated by said piston for driving said ratchet.

7. In a washing machine, a tub having a closed top, a reciprocatory member in the tub movable toward and away from the top of the tub for agitating the clothes, a piston below the tub connected to said member for reciprocating the same, an electric motor driven fluid pump arranged when energized to develop a fluid pressure to move said piston and when deenergized to release said fluid pressure, and means for intermittently opening and closing the motor circuit.

8. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving liquid and clothes to be washed, an abutment in the tub, a member in the tub reciprocable toward and away from ,said abutment to alternately squeeze and release the clothes therebetween, a reciprocating power member, jack means having a pressure transmitting member connected to said reciprocable member, a second pressure transmitting member connectible to the tub, and an operating member connected to said power member, means for holding said Jack means and said members together during washing whereby said reciprocable member is reciprocated toward and away from said abutment to alternately squeeze and release the clothes therebetween, and means for connecting said second pressure transmitting member to the tub during wringing whereby said reciprocable member is Jacked toward said abutment under a relatively high pressure.

, DAVID HAYS. 

